History of Board Games

Board games are certainly a lot of fun and they have been around for a long time. They bring friends and family together for friendly competition and the outcome is different every single time the game is played. Perhaps that is why the board game has not declined in popularity throughout its long history.

The history

Speaking of the history of board games, you will find that they have always been played upon a flat surface that is called the board. It is believed that board games have been around for 4,000 years, but unfortunately the written history does not extend back that far. However, there has been talk of board games discovered that extends back beyond 3,500 years.

Being that Asia tends to be the area in which some of the most historic facts are found, it isn't until 400 B.C. that the board games seems to have been discovered. However, the history of board games reveals that they were quite popular in ancient Greece and then spread throughout Europe. Eventually, the board game made its way to the United States where people have enjoyed them for centuries.

Nevertheless, the history of board games does not end there. There are both strategy games that involve trapping the opponent in some way and then there are racing games where the player's pieces are moved toward the finish line. Whoever reaches the finish line first is the winner.

One of the most popular racing games that come about in 1904 went by the name 'The Landlord's Game.' This is known as being one of the earliest forms of Monopoly. It wasn't copyrighted until 1933 when Charles Darrow decided to sell it for profit. It was not known who made the first version of the game, but he cashed in on it by selling versions that used different street names based on the area in which the players resided. It was also printed on tablecloths rather than boards with trinkets from around the house used as game pieces.

Today

You will find that today the history of board games continues. Many of the games that our parents and grandparents enjoyed as children are still manufactured. We see Monopoly coming out with various editions and it has never seemed to decline in popularity. Nevertheless, the board game is a great way to get family and friends together for some friendly fun and good conversation. The history of board games shows that this has been a result the entire time, which makes the board game a true family activity. If you can't get the kids to slow down long enough to talk, invite them in with a board game. You'll be glad you did.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about board game history, please visit Family Board Games Today for current articles and discussions.

By Ian Pennington